NetStream
| Public organisation | |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Kalyta, Nauras , |
Area served | Tyran |
| Services | Video hosting service |
Number of employees | 12.500 (2018) |
| Divisions |
|
| Website | http://www.netstream.gls/ |
NetStream is a Gylian public organisation providing video sharing services. It is part of the publinet.
NetStream offers ad-free video hosting and streaming services. It is funded from taxation and subscriptions. Invidiuals and companies can upload their works to the platform through accounts.
Users can watch and download videos in high-definition format, and have the option to donate directly to video makers using a pay what you want model.
Since its establishment, NetStream has had a significant impact and role in Gylian pop culture. It has a practical monopoly on national video hosting, serving as the publicly-owned online video platform.
History
NetStream was founded in 1994, as part of an effort to harness the increasingly popular internet for social and public service needs. It evolved out of the Proton Film project, designed to meet the needs of individuals.
The website was launched on 1 June 1996, using the same open-source hosting and streaming software as Proton Film. A second site, SexStream, was established in 1999 to host pornographic and erotic videos.
NetStream has been one of Gylias' most popular websites since its launch. It has experienced substantial user growth and has continued to expand functionality and services for users. Updates have included improvements to streaming capacity, use of peer-to-peer file sharing technology for downloads, support for high-definition video, support for more formats, new user features, and compatibility with mobile operating systems.
The site's comprehensive catalogue includes short original videos, video clips from television series and films, music videos from musicians and record companies, and gameplay footage from video games. It played a key role in the development of Gylias' speedrun and Let's Play communities, and is credited with bringing greater exposure to the Gylian demoscene. It played a significant role in the renewed Gylian Invasion of the 1990s, making Gylian pop culture easily accessible to anyone with internet access.
The site had 45 million registered users as of December 2018.
Features
Users
NetStream users can access videos for streaming or download, rate videos, tag and share videos.
The catalogue can be searched using multiple criteria and embedded on other websites via unique URLs. Downloaded files lack any copy protection mechanisms, and are compatible with various media players.
Users with accounts can additionally upload videos, create playlists, subscribe to channels, and gift money directly to the respective creators. Donations can be made in various currencies, including þalers, foreign currencies, and complementary currencies.
Videos can be uploaded in most digital container formats, and can be displayed in either standard-definition or high-definition.
There is no limit on video duration, but unofficial guidelines are observed that videos should be at most 15–30 minutes long. Longer uploads are approved or rejected by the moderation team. Short films and similar material are commonly sent to upload on Proton instead.
Tags exist that allow uploaders and users to suggest age guidelines and offer information on content which might be unsuitable for particular audiences.
Artists
Artists and publishers with accounts can upload their works to NetStream, using various file formats.
Artists can customise their pages, write their biography, or provide additional comments on their work. They can also access data regarding their web traffic, which is restricted to their accounts.
In addition to direct purchases and gifts, uploaders receive royalty payments for streaming through the Creative Rights Organisation.
Copyright
NetStream functions in accordance with Gylian copyright law, and material released on it conforms to different public copyright licenses or is in the public domain. Public domain content still accords permanent moral rights to its creators.
Publinet connections
Works uploaded through NetStream are automatically connected to the rest of the publinet, which forms a unified database. A program automatically scans uploads and generates links to respective entries on the other websites.
Music videos, film or television clips, and gameplay footage are automatically linked to Proton uploads.
Sampling of media automatically creates Samplexicon entries, while remixes and mash-ups automatically create Freemix entries.
References to artworks are automatically connected to ArtNet entries.
Community policy
NetStream bans videos that depict or incite to criminal conduct, hate speech, discrimination, violence, or prejudice on the basis of personal identity.
NetStream operates in accordance with Gylian law. As a result, news videos must be in conformity with the Information Bureau's activity, extremist content (including conspiracism and authoritarianism) is banned, and proselytism videos are banned in accordance with the Law on Religion of 1959.
The site's staff includes a moderation team of 2.000 people, which investigates user reports and takes down videos that violate the rules.
Funding
As a public organisation, NetStream is primarily funded from the federal government's budget, with contributions from regional and municipal governments. Users with accounts can also pay a subscription to support the site.
Ownership
NetStream is legally a public organisation, registered as a SP. The company is organised as a cooperative and governed by workers' self-management.
Its headquarters are in Kalyta, Nauras, forming an area known as the Ţiksagon.
Services
NetStream operates two websites for each of its services:
- NetStream — the main, general-interest site.
- SexStream — the site specifically for pornographic and erotic videos.
Geographic availability
NetStream is mainly available in Gylias, but can be accessed from anywhere in Tyran, as it does not use geo-blocking or regional lockout mechanisms.